Plot to derail Mugabe bash

HARARE - It appears as if it does not rain, but pours for the beleaguered Zanu PF faction that is said to be rallying behind embattled Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s mooted presidential aspirations.

After enduring two miserable weeks — that included getting a damaging public shellacking from First Lady Grace Mugabe, receiving unspeakable insults from Zanu PF youths, and suffering a savage battering at the hands of police — Team Lacoste now also stands accused of committing the grave party sin of plotting to scuttle President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash slated for next week.

Well-placed sources who spoke to the Daily News on Sunday yesterday said if these latest allegations were proven to be true, and it was established that the Mnangagwa faction was indeed behind the “foolish stunts” to scupper Mugabe’s Masvingo jamboree, this would probably spell “the end” of both the Midlands godfather and his allies.

“Remember Gushungo (Mugabe) has tried to be neutral in the current (party) crisis, clearly believing that the best way for him to keep the party together is to be circumspect about the problems. But this (the new claims) could be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel’s back.

“As it is, Ngwena (Mnangagwa) is under serious pressure to abandon and speak against those that are running around like headless chickens in his name to save his skin. The last thing that he needs is this, as it could finish him off,” a Zanu PF politburo member who says he is “non-aligned” said.

Speaking to youths in Bindura on Thursday, Zanu PF deputy secretary for the youth league, Kudzai Chipanga — who is also a politburo member — sensationally claimed that pamphlets were being distributed around the country, with the false message that Mugabe’s birthday celebrations had been cancelled.

“We have people who are saying they love president Mugabe only to plot against our president during the night. We respect our war veterans, but among them there are people who have lost the way.

“Christopher (Mutsvangwa) and (Victor) Matemadanda have lost the liberation struggle path. They are now working with the British to call for Mugabe’s ouster.

“They are writing some pamphlets saying that the president’s birthday bash has been cancelled, but we are saying that the event is going ahead in broad daylight as scheduled, whether you like it or not.

“What Mutsvangwa is saying is akin to what we call in Shona zvivindi zvegonzo kurota richipfimba mwana wekatsi (Mutsvangwa is day-dreaming),” Chipanga thundered.

National youth political commissar, Innocent Hamandishe, also claimed that some war veterans, backed by the Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (Zicosu), were in the process of ensuring that Mugabe’s birthday bash flopped.

“We also have affiliate organisations like Zicosu which are saying they want to block the president’s bash until he apologises to Mutsvangwa because the first lady allegedly insulted him. What stupidity from a few young people who do not even know how it all started,” Hamandishe said.

“We have discovered that some of the Zicosu leaders were bought vehicles. Let me warn you that the cars could lead to your death. There is no one who has the power to stop the bash. It is a youth league event. They say we want the president but he should rein in his wife, you are stupid. It’s absolute madness,” Hamandishe added.

Because of what was happening in Zanu PF, the youth league leaders say they are on high alert and will not stand aside while those they accuse of plotting to grab power from Mugabe run amok — especially some party bigwigs in the Midlands Province, Mnangagwa’s heartland.

“They are promising people that they want to mobilise their supporters to fight president Mugabe and the first lady, but we are saying we are going to defend the president.

“Nobody will touch the First Family when the youth league is there. Even in the Bible it is written that you cannot go to God without passing through Jesus. In politics we are saying you cannot touch our president before you defeat the youth league.

“You will have to kill all of us in the youth league and the youths around the country for you to get to him,” Chipanga warned, adding that the youth league only respected war veterans who had respect for Mugabe and Grace.

There were also unconfirmed claims yesterday that so vicious and seemingly intractable had Zanu PF’s fights become, that some youths in the warring party were now allegedly burning T-shirts bearing Grace’s face.

Youth league national secretary for finance, Tongai Kasukuwere, said some of the youths who were turning against Mugabe and allegedly burning Grace’s T-shirts were once their allies when they fought together against former Vice President Joice Mujuru and her allies.

“If it (defending Mugabe) will lead to our death, we are prepared to die because the moment we see people burning the first lady’s T-shirts then we cannot allow that.

“We are ready to lay our lives on the block in defence of our father. We want youths who are vigilant. If you lose the way, you risk hurting yourself,” he said.

In the meantime, our sister paper, the Daily News also reported last week that if any further proof was required to show that the Zanu PF faction rallying behind Mnangagwa was reeling from the ruling party’s seemingly-unstoppable factional and succession wars, this was ruthlessly brought to the public fore on Thursday.

In an unprecedented move then, riot police mercilessly clamped down on a group of war veterans loyal to the embattled VP — tear-gassing and water-spraying them before unyieldingly forcing them to disperse — after the group of former freedom fighters attempted to flex their muscles and congregate in Harare.

The chaos, which the Daily News and the Daily News on Sunday had accurately predicted in its editions of the past few days, came as Zanu PF’s ugly internal ructions get deadlier and dirtier, with the party faction linked to Mnangagwa increasingly mounting an open rebellion against Mugabe and Grace.

So in-your-face and aggressive have some of the utterances and tactics being employed by Team Lacoste become, that there has been for some time now real concern within Zanu PF that the ruling party’s escalating brawls could soon boil over into bloody conflict.

Comments (32)

Vana Dr Mafiro kureva nhema hamuna kwamunoenda nenhema dzenyu idzo as long as someone is living there is no such thing as he is finished G40 is now finishes no one listens to Mugabe anymore ....UGONYORA UGONYRA MOYO BUT HAPANA CHINOFMABA...WHO IS GRACE HURE ZVARO WHO CARES ABOUT WHAT SHE SAYS ...WHO IS MUGABE A 92 YR OLD FRAIL AND SICKLY OLD MAN SINGING FOR A DIAPER CHANGE ...NO ONE CARES ABOUT WHAT COMES OUT OF THOSE TWO FOOLS' MOUTH ...THE END

HaPO - 21 February 2016

Kutambiwa Kwe Mahumbwe Mu Poritikisi,this is sad for Zimbabwe.

Sekuru Ndoronga - 21 February 2016

So according to these fools Mugabe is God and the youth are Jesus. Jesus died for the povo he did not die for God. Teach these youths a lesson ma WarVets, we are behind you. Vakajaidzwa . We can turn Harare into another Syria tione kuti munofira Mugabe na Gire as you foolishly fool yourself. We are sick to the core with these unemployed youths who are still dreaming about any future from a 92 year old person. Mugabe had his chance and he should step down and give way to a new leader.

Stalker - 21 February 2016

hayaaa urikuzviona here izvo hove

VAKURU - 21 February 2016

Zvekuda ZANU haungazvigoni. Everyone claims to be fighting to keep Mugabe in power yet they still go ahead and fight each other. Who then really wants him to remain in power.

Inini - 22 February 2016

ZERO its unfortunate that the so called youths are thiefs like their Mugabe. Grace i hure without question look how she dances in the presence of elders her fathers age HURE REMUNHU

jairosi pasipamire - 22 February 2016

ma warvets were the ones proping him up for these past 36yrs. they have now tested they own medicine. good for them - they are learning the hard way. ngavauye ku people first.

zvirozviyedzwa - 22 February 2016

This so-called nonaligned member of ZANU PF is simply a G40 member if not Leader. Anokunyeperai. And for those misguided youths purporting to swear that they will die for Mugabe and misquoting the Bible - watch out. Even Peter (the most senior of the 12 Apostles vowed that they will die for Jesus Christ. Did he not deny knowledge of Jesus 3 times before the cock crowed. Kana mona zvebhaibheri tinokuvhurirai imi zvimbwa sungata zvaMugabe zvinorota zvichifira harabwa yodzugwa ndove kumusana. Wake up! Grace a celebrated whore wanting to be President of Zimbabwe. Nhaka maprostitute emuma Avenues achatoita maMinister.

Dingiswayo - 22 February 2016

I want to bring to the attention of the President, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Dr. Grace Mugabe, Saviour Kasukuwere and Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to thoroughly investigate CST Hove stationed at Makamba in Hwedza. i was totally shocked by his utterances when he was on the road block. its unfortunate that i didn't have a recording phone. He denigrated the President's celebration to be held in Masvingo saying it was better to give him the money than sponsoring that event. i am not a politician but i was deeply touched by his speeches which was totally misguided. i tried to check his number which appeared like 070 624C. This constable has a very bad influence which should not be swallowed at all by any Zimbabwean even a neutral person. Was he properly vetted when he was included in the police force. i wonder. The place is Goto Rusape. Please, Please, Please, this man must be investigated well.

Makandi - 22 February 2016

I want to bring to the attention of the President, Cde Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Dr. Grace Mugabe, Saviour Kasukuwere and Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to thoroughly investigate CST Hove stationed at Makamba in Hwedza. i was totally shocked by his utterances when he was on the road block. its unfortunate that i didn't have a recording phone. He denigrated the President's celebration to be held in Masvingo saying it was better to give him the money than sponsoring that event. i am not a politician but i was deeply touched by his speeches which was totally misguided. i tried to check his number which appeared like 070 624C. This constable has a very bad influence which should not be swallowed at all by any Zimbabwean even a neutral person. Was he properly vetted when he was included in the police force. i wonder. The place is Goto Rusape. Please, Please, Please, this man must be investigated well.

Makandi - 22 February 2016

Sometimes i fail to understand the opposition party i support MDC-T instead of utilising this opportunity to join forces with team Lacoste to get rid of this old man and his party they are busy watching from the terraces and sipping hot coffee and after this they expect to win the elections come 2018, this current government can never be removed democratically the only language they understand is violence hence the saying that goes you can only fight fire with fire and in this scenario we need to fight violence with violence that way we can take our country back from the so called owners of Zimbabwe

jacky - 22 February 2016

Yu may dislike us yu youngsters,its a democracy.bt while yu shuld be organising yo mdc to be strong again,we want to change our zanu.we want to catchup wth other liberation movements in sadc.the other movements are keeping up to modern politics,pass on the button stick.nt beating us.we as zanu are way behind.the party needs changing for the better.we enmvy other lib movements as they try to improve their citizens living standards.we dnt like the way things are now,our children ru ning to sa,zambia,botswana england n all.why us.bcoz of us,isnt it?.industrial revolution needs us to 1st change the direction of zanu.and that needs real man of honour.

viola gwena - 22 February 2016

Yes we brot zanu n mugabe into power.we defeated smith.bt yu also take blame for yo misery yu the youngsters,yu dnt vote,yu hav yo mdc ,n yu have failed to change course of our country,so that leaves us elders of the struggle wth no choice bt to pitch up again n say hello,e are hre.we gt teargusd n yu laugh at us.bt hey we want change ,yu may nt want it bt we want it.zanu must not die.yes yu ennoyed yoselves by watching us teargusd bt tomorrow when we achieve our goal,dnt scorn at our demands bcoz we deserve.we dnt stand by n hope Jesus to cme n help.

viola gwena - 22 February 2016

Makatikanya imi vana Lacoste or what ever you call yourselves. Mava kuda kuzosimudza misoro nhasi why didnt you do that kusango muna 1978. It serves you right, join the Mujuru faction in the political wilderness tifanane. Zvaiwana ngwarati. Let me drink to this!!!

Tongo Reva - 22 February 2016

viola you are over the board with your language. you had been hailed by many for refraining from use of abusive words. pls do not disrespect Jesus. just carry on with you comments as usual. do not drag God into your party's fracas. it appears to me that your problem in the revolutionary party is jonso. he is bent on destroying the party from within and that is exactly what he is doing.

taurai - 22 February 2016

i strongly fear as the maggot called Chipanga use the kill and die/death words as if he really mean what he says. these utterences are so venomated to the extent that by reading between the lines, you can tell where, how and who masterminded the calamity that befell the poor and gullible so called war vets. He plays with the words 'kill' and 'death' as if they are everyday words of reprimanding a noughty kid, yet they are words that carry grave consequences to to whom those words are directed. they are word that threaten the very fabric of human existance. This is the language that is synonimous with the party that is called zanu and these people spit the words without fear of reprimand because they have been annointed to use them by their handlers. The same people are the boot lickers and rectum chewers who will apologise to zimbabweans and promise 'heaven on earth' when they are kicked out of the party. When shall we learn that hate speech and verbal attacks on personalities wont take us anywhere? When shall we come to terms with the fact that hushe madzoro? When are we going to celebrate national achievements when those in leadership are busy fighting for one office or another? Answers please!

SaManyika Chaiye - 22 February 2016

@ viola gwena...we are not enjoying how the war vets are being treated. my advice to war vets for them to adopt a broader perspective of liberation to include everyone and not just your narrow interests that protect yourself and robert mugabe. its a pity that even after that kind of treatment we still hear fro your rank and file that we luv you bob we are behind yu bob you're the one centre of power bla bla bla all that nonsense. you created a monster for us and the monster is eating his own. do not be partisan put on a more nationalistic image than being an an extension of zanupf. we see the same problem with the national youth service its again partisan its just another militia of zanupf in like manner as you war vets. zanupf knows that by pitting you against the youths, you will bith fight for space in the political matrix. if you don't wake up you continue to be used and abused by this crookofyourscalledrgm.

nehanda nyakasikana - 22 February 2016

I meant no disrespect to The Son of Man,Jesus the 1st born of creation.if I did sound so my sincere apologies to all God fearing people.

viola gwena - 22 February 2016

Samanyika yu sound senile.cant yu just be to the point.say smething if yu hav a thing to say.I nw avoid yo comments coz they long n winding to nothing.cant yu be like old viola,strait to the point.yu r allowed to shut up if yu hav nothing to say.

rambanepasi - 22 February 2016

Thank yu Rambanepasi.this manyika sounds like a robot ,smeone pulling strings on it to talk.

yuba - 22 February 2016

Magandanga like viola must accept Mdc and help dislodge mugabe.imagine if viola was supporting Save.

MAKANDI..........Iweee makandi shit wako zvineyi nesu zva Hove. Can't you see its crystal clear you have your own differences na Hove and wants to bring in Politics. What kind of a cop can insult the President, in uniform, pa road block, displaying his force number, to strangers? you are dull, go hang

Ndazvitaura - 22 February 2016

@ramba & yuba i take note of yo points and need my expressions to be relevant. But calling me senile might be lack of understanding on your part; if you ask me to clarify, I can! its only that the issues to illustrate may be too-much that I end up entangling myself in the process. someone senile can regugitate a whole long speech for 45mins without knowing that its the same speech that they read 14 days below. once again i take note and will try to be breaf & precise!

SaManyika Chaiye - 22 February 2016

youth please dont let your guard down

truth - 22 February 2016

I am one of the youths who for the interest of the nation I follow issues and read between lines what is written. I am shocked by our youths who I think if correct should be 16-35 years old. Ladies and gentleman I suggest you need to think of a Zimbabwe you will be with after all the leaders 75 years and above are gone. To my surprise you are fight for people who have enjoyed their lives and only waiting for God. Start positioning yourselves on good ground rather pouring praises on people who do not even think about you at all. You are busy planning for somebody's birthday celebrations when some of the youths cannot get a dollar a day. It's pathetic time shall come when you realize you wasted resources on trivial issues. Better start investing in your own future leaders instead of staying in the past.

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